Pulitzer Prize winning author Cormac McCarthy is famous for his western stories, but did you know he spent most of his childhood through his early career in the Knoxville area? Born in Rhode Island, McCarthy moved with his family to Knoxville at age four in 1937. His father was an attorney for the Tennessee Valley Authority and eventually became chief counsel. McCarthy attended Catholic High School before spending years at the University of Tennessee from 1951-52 and also 1957-59. In between, he served four years in the Air Force. Early in his writing career he lived in Knox and Sevier counties earning awards and fellowships, including the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1969. After moving to Texas and elsewhere, McCarthy went on to write the Pulitzer Prize winner All the Pretty Horses, No Country for Old Men, Child of God and more. The film adaptation of No Country for Old Men won the Academy Award in 2007. His work can be seen on the screen this winter in an original screenplay, The Counselor.

Tennessee Vacation eGuide
The 2015 eGuide gives you instant access to Tennessee’s irresistible attractions and destinations. Peruse venues online, then put in your order to get a free guide delivered to your doorstep.